Sony A77, A65: Duo of 24 megapixel Translucent Mirror cameras launched(UPDATED)By
Mike Tomkins(Wednesday, August 24, 2011 - 01:01 EDT)Sony Electronics Inc. has today launched two new Translucent Mirror-based cameras for its SLT-series, the Sony A77 being the long-awaited successor to the Alpha A700 DSLR, while the Sony A65 shares much of its flagship sibling's DNA at a significantly more affordable price tag.

The Sony Alpha SLT-A77 vies with professional digital SLRs from the company's rivals, offering a whopping resolution of 24.3 megapixels from an Exmor APS HD CMOS image sensor. Coupled with Sony's latest-generation Bionz image processor, this offers the ability to capture a whopping twelve full-resolution frames per second with a fixed aperture, leading Sony to describe the the A77 as being the world's fastest APS-C interchangeable-lens camera. Even with a variable aperture, the A77 offers a very swift eight frames per second. The A77's solid, weather-sealed magnesium alloy body also includes a new LCD articulation mechanism that allows viewing from in front of the camera, even when mounted on a tripod.

Another key point of the new design is its new Organic LED electronic viewfinder, which offers a staggering 2.4 million RGB dots of resolution. There's also a new 19-point autofocus sensor with 11 cross-type points, 1,200 zone metering, shutter speeds to 1/8,000 second, and ISO sensitivity ranging from 50 to 16,000 equivalents. The Sony A77 also offers the ability to capture Full HD video at 60 progressive-scan frames per second, from 60 fps sensor data, another world's first for an interchangeable lens camera, says Sony. As you'd expect for an SLT-series camera, the A77 offers full-time phase detection autofocus during video capture, a unique selling point of Sony's Translucent Mirror design. Full manual and priority exposure control is possible during movie capture.

Alongside the camera body, Sony has unveiled a new weather-sealed zoom lens, the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM. There's also a new portrait / battery grip designed for the A77 body, the VG-C77AM vertical grip, and again weather-sealed. (Together with the existing HVL-F43AM flash strobe, this brings together the possibility of a completely sealed system, although the remainder of Sony's lens lineup isn't currently sealed.)

The Sony SLT-A77 should be available in the US market from October 2011. Body-only pricing is set at approximately US$1,400, while a kit version including the Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM standard zoom lens will be priced at around US$2,000. (The lens itself will also be available separately a few weeks after the A77's launch, priced at around $700 by itself.) The VG-C77AM vertical grip will be available in October, and cost about US$300.

As noted previously, the Sony A65 shares a surprising amount of its powerful sibling's DNA. For that reason, it's perhaps easier to briefly summarize some of the areas in which the specification has been dialed back just slightly, but it's no knock whatsoever on the A65 given it's much more affordable pricing.

In place of the A77's new 19-point autofocus sensor, the Sony A65 relies on the same 15-point phase detection AF sensor with three cross-type points that featured in the previous SLT-series cameras. It also lacks the expanded lower sensitivity limit of ISO 50 equivalent, instead offering an ISO 100 to 16,000 range. Continuous burst shooting speed with a locked aperture is just a little slower at ten frames per second, the same as the previous-generation SLT series flagship, but it bests that camera and matches the A77 when the aperture is user-controlled, with a rate of 8 fps. The Sony A65 also lacks the new LCD articulation mechanism of its sibling, and instead retains the same bottom-mounted tilt/swivel design seen on the first two SLT-series cameras. The maximum shutter speed of the Sony A65 is a more modest 1/4,000 second, and it has a less powerful built-in flash strobe. It also lacks the weather-sealing, and the top-mounted LCD info display found on its sibling.

For that, the price savings is significant, to say the least, however. The Sony A65 is well within reach, priced at approximately US$900 body-only, while a kit version including the Sony DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM standard zoom lens will be priced at around US$1,000. The Sony SLT-A65 should be available in the US market from October 2011.

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 24, 2011 -- Blazing speed, enhanced image quality, high resolution and incredible performance are just some of the features advanced amateurs and photo enthusiasts will find in Sony’s newest alpha cameras, models SLT-A77 (α77) and SLT-A65 (α65).

Sony’s latest refinements to its Translucent Mirror Technology make these new cameras the fastest, most responsive interchangeable lens cameras in their class, as well as set new performance benchmarks that even professional DSLRs have yet to achieve. The α77 and α65 both feature a newly developed Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor with 24.3 effective megapixel resolution, as well as the world’s first XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ viewfinder. The sensor teams with the next generation of Sony’s BIONZ® image processing engine to handle huge amounts of high speed data from the camera sensor, enabling unprecedented response times and flawless image quality with ultra-low noise when shooting still images or Full HD video.

“We feel that these cameras are not only a significant evolution of our breakthrough Translucent Mirror Technology,” said Mike Kahn, director of the alpha camera business group for Sony Electronics. “They’re also a revolution in terms of redefining how this unique technology can be put to use by enthusiasts.”

Precision AF tracking of moving subjects is more precise with the α77 due to a new 19-point autofocus system with 11 cross sensors. The α65 boasts 15-point AF with three cross sensors. Tracking Focus maintains accurate focus lock on a moving subject -- even if the target is momentarily obscured. Additionally, a new electronic front shutter curtain achieves a minimum release time lag of approximately 50 milliseconds, comparable to much more expensive professional-class DSLRs.

Unprecedented image quality and creative options A broad sensitivity range of ISO 100-16000 expands (α77 only) down to ISO 50. At the highest sensitivities, both cameras can freeze fast action or capture atmospheric low-noise shots without flash. Low ISO settings are ideal when used with a long exposure to create expressive shots, such as splashing water.

Both cameras showcase a remarkably crisp OLED Tru-Finder™ viewfinder, the world’s first of its kind. With a 2359k dot (XGA) resolution, this precision electronic viewfinder offers a bright, highly detailed, high contrast image with 100 percent frame coverage and a wide field of view comparable to the most advanced class optical viewfinders.

However, unlike optical viewfinders, users have expansive customization capabilities through the XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ viewfinder and can preview the effects of adjusting exposure, white balance and other settings in real-time. Photographers can also make fine focus adjustments via a zoomed-in portion of the image.

The Smart Teleconverter displays an enlarged central portion of the image sensor, allowing compositions to be displayed clearly on the OLED viewfinder and captured as 12 megapixel images with a digital zoom factor of 1.4x or 2x.

In another first for DSLR cameras, both new models can capture Full HD video at 60p (progressive) frame rates -- incorporating the recently introduced AVCHD™ Progressive (Ver. 2.0) format. Also, 24p shooting is available for capturing beautiful cinematic video footage. Manual focusing and P/A/S/M exposure modes, familiar to creative filmmakers, also can provide enhanced control during video shooting.

Shooters can compose and review stills and video on the adjustable-angle three-inch Xtra Fine LCD™ display that offers high resolution (921k dot) and TruBlack™ technology for superb detail and contrast. As an extra refinement, the α77 introduces the world’s first three-way adjustable screen that tilts and pivots freely for effortless framing at any angle (α65: two-way adjust LCD).

Revised ergonomics on both cameras include a comfortably contoured new grip design and tactile new button layout for ‘eyes off’ operation while viewing via the high-resolution XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ viewfinder.

The α77 adds front and rear control dials for intuitive fingertip operation and a separate top-mounted LCD data display. The durable body features magnesium alloy panels for strength and lightness. Key controls are sealed against the effects of dust and moisture, complementing similar levels of protection offered by the new SAL1650 lens, VG-C77AM Vertical Grip for α77 and HVL-F43AM flash unit.

A new shutter unit on the α77 is tested up to 150,000 cycles and supports an ultra-fast minimum 1/8000 sec shutter speed (1/250 sec flash sync). On-board GPS allows automatic geo-tagging of photos and video clips with location data.

New DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM zoom lens and accessories The growing range of compatible A-mount lenses for both cameras now includes the quiet, bright DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM standard zoom with 16mm wide angle coverage that’s ideal for both portrait and everyday shooting.

An optional dust- and moisture-resistant VG-C77AM Vertical Grip for α77 assures comfortable handling in vertical shooting positions. It can house up to two NP-FM500H InfoLITHIUM® batteries, doubling shooting stamina up to approximately 1060 shots (via LCD monitor)/940 shots (via Tru-Finder™ viewfinder) when using Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media. Other new A-mount system accessories include a back pack (LCS-BP2), soft carrying cases (LCS-SC21 and LCS-SC8), LCD protectors and eyepiece cups.

Pricing and Availability The new α77 Translucent Mirror interchangeable lens camera will be available in a kit with the new SAL1650 f2.8 lens for about $2000, and offered as body-only for about $1400. The SAL1650 lens will also be sold separately for about $700.

The new VG-C77AM vertical grip, designed for the α77 camera, will be available in October for about $300.

The new α65 Translucent Mirror interchangeable lens camera will be available in a kit with a standard 18-55mm lens (SAL1855) for about $1000, and offered as body-only for about $900.

Both the α77 and α65 cameras kits and the new SAL1650 lens will be available this October at Sony retail stores as well as other authorized retailers throughout the Sony dealer network.